Thread by @RepHoulahan

"The germ, a fungus called Candida auris, preys on people w/ weakened immune systems, and it is quietly spreading across the globe."

It has recently reached NY, NJ, and IL. CDC has classified it as an "urgent threat."

We need to talk about this. 1/.

nytimes.com/2019/04/06/hea…

C. auris is part of a "rise of drug-resistant infections" across the globe. Already, experts have said that "unless more effective new medicines are developed and unnecessary use of antimicrobial drugs is sharply curbed, risk will spread to healthier populations." 2/

A study conducted by the British government projects that, unless we take action now, "10 million people could die worldwide of all such infections in 2050, eclipsing the eight million expected to die that year from cancer." 3/

This is a global issue. This is an American issue. "More recent estimates from researchers at @WUSTLmed put the death toll" for Americans who've contracted resistant infections at 162,000. The @CDCgov says "nearly half of patients who contract C. auris die within 90 days." 4/

There have already been 587 reported cases of people contracting C. auris in the United States. Science should never be a partisan issue. Protecting Americans should never be a partisan issue. We must act. 5/

I led a letter, signed by @RepCasten and @CongressmanJVD (also scientists), urging the @AppropsDems to continue fully funding the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (@NIAIDNews) at the @NIH. 6/

The NIAID conducts/supports research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. The scientist at NIAID are the people working to safeguard our country from the spread of disease and potential pandemics. 7/

The #TrumpBudget has proposed $768 million in cuts to the NIAID, which would amount to an overall 13.9% reduction. This cut would greatly hamper NIAID's ability to pursue research critical to our nation's health, growth, and prosperity. 8/

With threats like C. auris, we must be proactive in our research and preventative actions. I am standing up for the people of #PA06 and all Americans when I urge Congress to continue fully supporting the important work of the NIAID. 9/9